The Amazing Saw-whet!

For a while now, time has not been on my side and unfortunately, I haven't had much time to blog.  Actually, I haven't really had much time to do anything to blog about but, recently, the Indiana Young Birders took a trip to Lafayette, IN to see one of the most secretive owls known - the Saw-whet.  This amazing owl has finally given me something to post about.

We visited the property of Dr. Delano Arvin on January 19th and were among approximately 25 other participants anxious to see these amazing birds in their natural setting.  Dr. Arvin's property has attracted these owls for many winters and this year has hosted 6 six.  Saw-whet's are cool for a lot of reasons but mostly because they are so cooperative. Standing only about 7 inches tall, Saw-whet's have little fear of humans, most likely because they rarely have encounters with us.  They are so small that they are rarely seen and for most of the year, the reside in areas that have little human activity.  

The owls on January 19th were very cooperative.  We were able to get some amazing looks at 3 and a fair look at one that was pretty well hidden - 4 in all.  Yes, that is four Saw-whets in a single morning!  The young birders were amazed at the chance to see these marvelous creatures and were even more excited that they could get virtually eye to eye without the owls making a single flinch.  The adults were equally amazed and most had not yet seen a Saw-whet owl, so this trip offered not only some terrific views but also an addition to many life lists.

To make the trip even better, participants also had a chance to see a Barred Owl and a number of other woodland birds including Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler and a copious number of Carolina Chickadees. I couldn't imagine a birding adventure without a chickadee.

A BIG THANKS to the Arvin family for hosting another amazing trip for the Indiana Young Birders Club!

Our Biggest Day at the Biggest Week!

 American Woodcocks... at this particular location along the boardwalk, there were two families totaling 8!

My son and I made a last minute decision and a mad dash north after deciding we couldn't take hearing about and/or reading one more person's post on Facebook about what a good time they were having or the awesome birds they were seeing at the Biggest Week in American Birding.  It seemed as though everybody in the U.S.(and from around the world) that had any passion for birds was there and by golly, we were going to be too!  If for only one day.

We arrived late Friday night and after getting some essential nutrition (Taco Bell and Oreos) to fuel us up for our Big Saturday we headed to bed ready to dream about the warblers to come...

 A massive assemblage of birders taking their turn to see the very rare Kirtland's Warbler.

Saturday came early but we were ready.  Not having much time, we headed straight for the main drag, the boardwalk at Magee Marsh.  This boardwalk serves as a resting spot for migrants that are heading farther north over Lake Erie as well as a final destination for other migrants that are ready to stop and nest.  It twists and turns through several acres of woodland habitat making it very appealing to birders of all ages and abilities.  Warblers and other migrants often seem to be "dripping" from the trees and at times double digits of species can been seen without hardly moving an inch - often, within minutes.  No, I am not exaggerating.

 Baltimore Oriole.  This awesome bird was everywhere!

Barn Swallow.  One of many at the Magee Marsh Bird Center entrance.

My son and I spent most of our day on the boardwalk and never left the Magee Marsh area.  In our short time, we racked up 17 species of warblers along with a multitude of other cool birds that were at times, only a few feet away from our  face.  Baltimore Orioles, Bald Eagles, American Woodcocks, Swainson's Thrushes, Red-eyed Vireos, Great Egrets, Trumpeter Swans, and Eastern Kingbirds came into view constantly throughout the day to remind us that we were definitely in a real-life fantasy!

 View of Lake Erie from the parking lot of Magee Marsh.

We took only two breaks during the day.  One, to have a quick lunch and the second, to track down some of the great people of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory.  We lucked out and were able to catch up with Karen Zach, Kim Kaufman, and Ken Keffer.  Because these amazing folks were so busy we were unfortunately not able to chat long but, we were able to exchange a few handshakes and hugs and it is this that made our day complete!

Our long trip home wasn't really long enough.  In one day we were able to bank enough bird stories to last us a lifetime.  Memories that my son and I will have forever.  Memories of our Big Day during the Biggest Week.  Memories that we would not have if it were not for birds!

Prothonatary Warbler.  We watched as this very tenacious bird remove mouthfuls of moss from the base of many trees to build her nest under the stairs of the boardwalk.

Trumpeter Swans.  Always adding a touch of class to the marsh.

For more information on the area, please start at the website of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory.

2012 IAS Spring Festival at Mary Gray

Indiana Young Birders showing off their fantastic artwork!

Every spring, IAS members come together to celebrate birds, birding, and nature at the annual Spring Festival at the Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary in Connersville, IN.  It's a casual festival that's loosely structured - on purpose.  You see, this festival is unique because it celebrates a gorgeous 700+ acre nature preserve owned by the IAS that hosts old forest, new forest, meadows, creeks, and ponds which are home to a wide diversity of birds, wildflowers, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals.  But, most of all this festival celebrates the members who care about the property and gives these same members a chance to come together and enjoy what they love the most - nature! 

Sarah proudly displaying her new Crossley guide that she won for her outstanding work on a weekend field notebook!

 Sophia showing off her new Kaufman Guide for her outstanding bird identification abilities!

One of our annual highlights is being able celebrate the property with our youngest generation of bird lovers, the members of the Indiana Young Birders Club.  This year the festival was filled with youth who not only birded and chased amphibians but also painted bluebird box doors, documented their weekend in field notebooks, and tested their knowledge with an I.D. quiz.

Our I.D. Quiz winner was Sophia T., an awesome young birder that even helped her dad band birds!  Sarah S., won a Crossley guide for her work on our weekend field notebook contest.  Another cool young birder highlight was a great presentation given by Scarlett Arvin who did an outstanding job presenting on her experience last year in Maine.  We do have a great group of kids!

Is there anything more cute than five little Carolina Chickadees?

And the birds!  Oh, the birds!  From Cape May Warblers to Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, festival participants  documented 110 species over that included not only spring migrants but local nesting birds that make the sanctuary their home.  Family life was everywhere including an opportunity for some quick looks at nesting Carolina Chickadees and Eastern Bluebirds feeding their "teenage" kids sitting on the branches of trees.  

Everywhere you looked there was something to do.  Tim Tolford., was banding birds, which is always a nature festival hit. Doug Gray was on site to express the importance of diversity in birding, and each night we were even able to relax and watch a late night movie, about birds, of course.

But, like with all good times, we eventually had to say goodbye and on Sunday afternoon we did.  Driving away smiling because we knew next year, we'd be back.

Artists at work!


Many thanks to Amy and Carl Wilms (resident managers), Trevor and Natalie Abernathy (resident caretakers), and all of the volunteers that worked so hard to make the event wonderful!

Wild Violets!

Common Blue Violet

Last weekend, I decided to take a walk through Southwestway Park in Indianapolis to see what wildflowers were enjoying our early spring. I was amazed to find many!

There were May Apples, Trillium, and others beginning to put on their spring show but more than any, I noticed the Violets. Honestly, I haven't paid much attention to them before. In fact, I learned right away that I had been taking them for granted, never really showing much appreciation for their individual beauty. This trip, I felt somewhat moved (I am sure God had some involvement with this) to focus on the violets as a reminder that it's okay to periodically pause. So, for the remainder of my hike I decided to get down on my knees and appreciate the violets at eye level.

Yellow Violet

At eye level, I was even more amazed when I rediscovered that violets were not only blue (mostly purple) but also yellow and white. Each amazingly distinct and incredibly gorgeous.

After I got home, I looked up violets to see what I could find on the internet and was immediately disheartened to learn that violets are under-appreciated and considered a weed by most. Typing in wild violet will mostly pull up ways to eradicate this lovely plant since it enjoys showing its beauty to the world via our yards. I have never been one to worry too much about grass versus weeds in my yard so long as it's green but, apparently most do providing me a new theory that that most yard fanatics don't spend much time on their belly actually looking at what they are killing.

I'm not judging but, I am on a violet kick right now, okay!

White Violet

My guess is most people reading this blog have taken the time to look at a violets just as I have and have equally appreciated what they offer to our landscape - especially in a woodland setting. But, if you haven't please do.

I am now convinced that this orchid-like flower was designed for attention and so deserves a moment of our time to appreciate it not as a an ordinary flower but as a gift. One for which I am personally thankful.

IYBC 100 Guide Giveaway!

The Indiana Young Birders Club is on a mission. That is, a mission to get as many kids interested in birds and nature as possible and to provide opportunities for them (and those already interested) once they become interested. It's not an easy task but, we are committed to the challenge.

The IYBC is especially excited about our newest program - the IYBC 100 Guide Giveaway! Yes, you read correct. The IYBC is giving away 100 Kaufman Field Guides to Birds of North America in 2012 to young birders/ nature lovers, scout leaders, and educators in an effort to introduce them and others to the world of birds or sharpen their current skills to become better birders.

Guides will be given away at IYBC/ IAS events, through online contests, and by applying online. However the guide is won, each guide will be free of charge. The only thing the IYBC is asking in return is a picture of the winner with their guide and permission to share the photograph to help spread the enthusiasm of youth birding.

Ceth doing his research

Of course, a program like this would not be possible without support. The IYBC is extremely thankful for the generosity of the Indiana Audubon Society, Ohio Ornithological Society, Midwest Birding Symposium, and Kenn and Kim Kaufman for making our initiative possible.

For more information on the 100 Guide Giveaway, please visit: www.indianayoungbirders.org.

Singing the Blues over a Tropical Memory

For as long as I can remember, the Blue Jay has been my favorite bird. I can't say for sure what initially did it for me. Its nagging personality, dominant behavoir, striking coloration - I'm not sure. But, whatever it was, I have loved this bird for a long time.

Almost everyday I put out a hand full of peanuts for no other reason than to make sure my Blue Jays are happy. If I rush off to work and forget to put out the peanuts, I worry all day about what my Blue Jays must be thinking about me. Nothing could ever replace my Blue Jays.

And then it happenned. My first dose of true temptation on December 30, 2010 at Laguna Atascosa near South Padre Island, TX. My wife and I were at the feeders for about two minutes when it showed up. My heart dropped, my blood pressure went up, and I became instantly still. I became infatuated with "another bird". The guilt was terrible but, I could not stop looking. The green feathers, the blue feathers, the tinge of yellow - oh, the excitement! I knew the bird would be cool but I had no idea it would be THAT COOL!!!

I was infatuated to a point of tunnel vision, no other bird mattered. It was all about the Green Jay for the remainer of the trip.

The day I said goodbye to South Texas on January 2, 2011 was hard. On the way to the airport, on the plane, and as I was driving home, all I could think about was that entrancing green that I saw in Texas. But, on January 3 I realized that I was only infatuation as I looked out my living room window and instantly realized, my Blue Jays could not be replaced and that they needn't worry.

But...

It happenned again. This time on January 2, 2012, my first day of a weeklong birding adventure in South Texas with my friends Rob and Eric Ripma. Just like before, the Green Jays arrived and instantly, nothing else mattered - at least not as much as the Green Jays. There were Hooded Orioles, Altamira Orioles, and Great Kiskadees everywhere. The Salineno feeders were a hub of colorful activity. But it didn't matter, all I wanted was the Green Jays.

We stopped at a number of cool destinations and saw some very cool birds throughout the trip but my heart had turned green and no matter where we went I was always hoping a Green Jay would make its appearance - and, it almost always did.

The trip home was much like before, I was sad to be leaving such and extroidinary bird but I knew once I saw a Blue Jay again, I would remember the species that owned my heart. But this time, it has been different. My Blue Jays are making me smile as they always have but I feel like something is missing.

Something gaudy and green with a lot of Texas hospitality.

Texas, Part 2. Estero Llano Grande and South Padre Island

Least Grebe and Northern Shoveler... Estero Llano Grande

I've decided that it is next to impossible to write about Texas in a blog. One single birding trip to this state could easily transform into a novel. This will be part 2 of at least 4 blogs posts on our trip this past January. Of course, I am going to have to speed up the posting so that I can also write about something else before the end of theyear! This post is going to highlight Estero Llano Grande State Park and South Padre Island (specifically, the World Birding Center).

Both places are my favorite. Just like Salineno and Falcon Lake - my favorites. Yes, I am one of those people that just can't make up my mind. Just like my ongoing dilemma between a Blue Jay and a Green Jay - I can't decide which is my number one favorite bird. I mean, it has always been the Blue Jay so how can I put this gorgeous bird on the back burner? I can't! So, I now have two favorite birds; The Blue Jay and the Green Jay! In fact, as I type this I am smiling at the sound of a Blue Jay outside the window making his normal obnoxious racket before his approach to snatch his favorite food - a peanut.

Let me get back on track! Estero Llano Grande State Park is a World Birding Center in Weslaco, TX. A very birder/nature lover friendly park, Estero has great trails that will guide you around ponds, creeks, and Texas woodlands allowing you to capture a number of birds in a variety of habitats. From Buff-bellied Hummingbirds to Green Kingfishers and Least Grebes to Northern Shovelers, your eyes will never slow down from the excitement! Estero is also a great place to see the Common Pauraque. Like so many parks in the Rio Grande Valley, Estero is also a location for rarities which tend to pop up all year long. During our visit we were blessed with some great looks at a Rose-throated Becard - thank goodness for the great bird finding ability of Eric Ripma! Now, off to South Padre...

Least Sandpipers... Estero Llano Grande

Northern Pintail and Wigeon... South Padre WBC

Snowy Egret... South Padre WBC

The World Birding Center at South Padre Island is a birders/photographers dream. Just like Merritt Island or Ding Darling in Florida, the birds seem to enjoy being subjects of photography. If the sun is just right, great pictures can be taken with almost any type of camera. So, at this place don't be intimidated by the big lenses, I promise your $100 camera will take just as many good pictures as your neighbor's $10k camera.

Ok, back on point. This destination will give you a chance to utilize a boardwalk system that will get you up close and personal to a wide variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, and marsh birds. For us this included: Northern Pintail, Wigeon, Tri-colored Heron, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, Red Head Duck, Reddish Egret, American Oystercatcher, Gull-billed Tern, Marsh Wren, Sedge Wren, and Marbled Godwit. The list goes on and one. Oh, did I mention all of these birds were RIGHT THERE!!!

Tri-colored Heron... South Padre WBC

Roseate Spoonbill... South Padre WBC

Whether it be Estero Llano Grande or South Padre Island World Birding Center you should plan for a full day at each location. You can rush but you'll only be stressed that you did. So take your time and be ready for a LOT of birds!

Starting Off Right in 2012. Texas, Part 1.

Salineno, TX. Mexico on the left, U.S. on the right.

I guess I can call it a tradition now, making my yearly birding adventure an adventure that starts in Texas. Last year, I started the new year birding such places as Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and South Padre Island. Some of my first birds of 2011 included: Clapper Rail, Royal Tern, and Brown Pelican. By January 2, I had added Whooping Crane and Snow Goose among many others.

This year, I was invited by my friends Rob and Eric Ripma to join them on an aggressive birding adventure that would begin in San Antonio and follow the border of Mexico to Brownsville, then north to South Padre Island, even farther north to Corpus Christi and ultimately back to San Antonio. During the week long excursion we birded some outstanding destinations including Falcon Dam SP, Frontera Audubon, Bentsen SP, Santa Ana NWR, Salineno, Laguna Atascosa NWR, Estero Llano Grande SP, the World Birding Center at South Padre Island and Mustang Island. Each of these destinations alone could easily be rated as one of the best birding destinations in the world!

Our first goal was to get what I would consider the golden bird of the trip - the Brown Jay! This particular bird had been making daily appearances at the feeders at Salineno, smack on the U.S./Mexico border so the feeders at Salineno become our first destination. Unfortunately, the Brown Jay did not show up during our first four hour wait but, the feeders did not disappoint. They were full of Great Kiskadees, Altamira Orioles, Hooded Orioles, Audubon's Orioles, and many other gorgeous birds including the Green Jay - which has to be one of the most beautiful birds in the United States.

Since we missed the Brown Jay the first day, we headed back to Salineno again the next morning. Fortunately, this awesome bird made an early morning appearance for us with some great looks. So, we immediatly headed out to get some other great Texas commoners including: Pyrrhuloxia, Verdin, Inca Dove, Ladder-backed Woodpecker and some breathtaking views of a Zone-tailed Hawk.

Brown Jay... the Golden Bird! Salineno, Texas.

White-winged Dove... Salineno, TX

Altamira Oriole... Salineno, TX

And this was just the first two days...

La República Dominicana

Dominican Cloud Forest

___

Yet, another late post from Chad. To not be late would be a post by someone other than myself.

Hispaniolan Woodpecker and Antillian Palm Swift... this is one my favorite pictures!

Narrow-billed Tody (endemic)... Ebano Verde Reserve

___

This past September, my best friend John and I went to the Dominican Republic for our annual birding trip. More specifically, we went to the Santo Domingo and Boca Chica area. As with all of our trips, we were excited to go and could not wait for the plane to land! I mean, we were heading to hot weather and sunshine in the tropics! Not to mention an island that has 31 endemic species. Yeap, 31! I wonder how come you don't hear much about the Dominican Republic or the island as a whole - Hispaniola? Not a clue.

Nutmeg Manikan... a common bird but always fun to stop and watch.

Boca de Nigua... gorgeous grounds of trash.

___

John and I, along with a very willing and anxious Dominican resident, Steve Brauning birded three primary areas: Santo Domingo National Botanical Gardens, Ebano Verde (Science Reserve), and Boca de Nigua. All three places, full of great birds! The botanical gardens (as with most botanical gardens) was easy to bird and in addition, provided some great scenery of a very well kept garden. Highlights were Red-legged Thrush, Hispaniolan Parakeet, Antillian Mango, and Black-whiskered Vireo.

Our next stop was Boca de Nigua, a wetland area that hugs the coastline just outside of Santo Domingo. This place is nothing short of a success story that will continue to improve and flourish so long as the restoration continues. Prior to the restoration, the area served as a garbage dump. Finding this large reserve was no easy task as nobody in the very nearby vicinity seemed to know anything about it. We finally found one local taxi driver that knew exactly where we needed to go.

As we approached I became quickly in awe at the beauty of the large marshland which included a pristine blue ocean acting as the backdrop. Instantly, we saw Great Egrets, Cattle Egrets, and Green Herons all birds that signify the beauty of a wetland. I knew right away we were in a great place. As we left the car and started to bird the marsh edge, it was obvious that the area used to be a garbage dump. Everywhere we went, we walked on trash - none of which you could see unless you looked straight down. The plant growth covered most of the unsightliness. But, the birds didn't seem to care what the area used to be, they seemed to be very content with what it now was. Snowy Egrets, Tricolored Herons, Smooth-billed Anis, Black-necked Stilts, and Lesser Yellowlegs all seemed to forage in harmony. One very cool highlight for us was the White-cheeked Pintail. The area is apparently a very reliable spot to find this species of duck. Actually, we thought we were skunked until the very end. And then, they appeared - seven I think.

West Indian Whistling Duck... Santo Domingo Botanical Gardens. Gorgeous!

___

Our last destination was Ebano Verde. A mountain reserve west of Santo Domingo about 2 hours away. We left at about 4:30a and arrived just before light. At our arrival, we were welcomed by the tiny sound of multiple Black-faced Grassquits. The original plan was to walk down the mountain about two miles and have a car bring us back up. This plan changed when the gate was locked at the top of the trail. Guess what this means? Yeap, you guessed it, we had to start at the bottom. Now, I am not complaining but, walking up a mountain is tough for anyone, especially if you are 60 pounds overweight. The strenuous journey up began, complete with an armed security guard (a first).

The reserve was gorgeous. Lush and green, just as you would expect it to be in the tropics. The exception to this would have been about another 3 hours west in the land of Haiti where (from what I am told) the tree line ends. Very sad. Anyway, we weren't in Haiti, we were in the DR so I'll keep it lush. One of our first birds was the Hispaniolan Trogan and endemic Trogan that like most others is as gorgeous as any parrot or parakeet. It would seem all down hill after starting with this bird but thankfully it was just the opposite. Like magic, birds such as the Narrow-billed Tody (endemic), Hispaniolan Spindalis (endemic), Antillian Piculet (endemic), and Hispaniolan Pewee (endemic) all appeared to ensure excitement throughout the hike and to make this big man forget all about the strain of walking uphill.

Black-crowned Palm Tanager (endemic)

___

The everyday birding location was our hotel grounds. We stayed at the Bellvue Dominican Bay in Boca Chica. All I can say is it was a good thing that we were there for the birds because the hotel itself was NASTY! The two most abundant birds that were almost everywhere you looked were the Antillian Palm Swift and Hispaniolan Woodpecker. I could have watched either species for hours. The Antillian Palm Swifts were very active around the hotel and were most likely feasting on the bugs flying in and around the luxury hotel grounds. Other highlights on the hotel grounds inlcuded: Palmchat (endemic), Gray Kingbird, and the very awesome Hispaniolan Lizard-cuckoo!

Hispaniolan Emerald (endemic)... Boca de Nigua Reserve

Hispaniolan Trogan (endemic)... Ebano Verde Reserve. Beautiful!!!

Hispaniolan Parakeet (endemic)... Santo Domingo Botanical Gardens

Bananaquit... very common but always cool!

Boca Chica Beach... as sad as it looks!

___

Probably the worst part of the trip was the cleanliness of the Santo Domingo and Boca Chica area. To the locals, trash either goes on the street or on the beach - yes, I said the beach. I was so upset at the conditions of the beach that I had to drink just to make the trash disappear! The area is also a haven for prostitution which is legal in the area. Everywhere you look you will see men and women in their 50's and 60's with young men and women who are probably no older than 21. So, while most visitors in the area were focused on their prostitution needs, John and I remained focused on the birds. The safe, moral, and much cleaner alternative.

In all, I ended the trip with 27 new birds. Only 11 of which were of the endemics. And, although I would have loved to have gotten more of endemics, I left the island mostly perturbed that I did not get the Vervain Hummingbird. This hummingbird, the second smallest in the world, is allegedly very common. John saw it and Steve could not believe I hadn't seen it. He assured me if I sat next to some flowers long enough that it would show. But for me, it never did.

In the end, I left the island Vervainless and with 20 endemics to go so I guess I will have to put on my prostitute repellent and go back someday very soon!

OYBC Annual Conference - Columbus, OH

Grange Audubon Center... Columbus, Ohio. The location of the coolest birding event of 2011.

Young birders... looking through Kenn's scope at a Pied-billed Grebe.

---

I am embarrassed that it took so long to write about such a great event but it had to be done, no matter how irresponsibly tardy. The event, the 2011 Ohio Young Birders Club Conference in Columbus, OH was without a doubt, the highlight of my birding year! I repeat, the HIGHLIGHT of MY birding year! I would not consider myself a hardcore birder but would say that I am an intense birder to the very extent of my abilities – in 2011 I officially birded Indiana, Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. I say this to say that I had many great birding experiences over the past year and many individual highlights that could easily qualify as the “best” of 2011 but none of these events remotely compared to the one single event that I attended in Columbus, Ohio on November 5, 2011.

A great group of young birders... from the left (Kathleen Seeley, Lukas Padegimas, Robert Reynard, Rachael Butek, and Jessie Barry). Jessie represented the Cornell Lab of Ornithology with a very cool presentation about careers in the world of birding.

---

It is honestly quite difficult to sum up such an awesome event in just a few short paragraphs but I am going to try my best. The event is inspirational and touching in a way that cannot really be described. Kim Kaufman, along with her team of staff and volunteers were able to wrap this event in a package that would surprise and impress the Grinch himself. From logistics to door prizes and bird banding to presentations – the event rocked! Seamless and smooth in every way, it was obvious the event was something more than just an event; it was more like a gem that had been polished with a lot of obvious care. As Kim stated at the event, the OYBC is her “baby” and it was evident she was telling the truth!

Hermit Thrush... being shown during a morning bird banding demonstration.

Rachael Butek (ABA Young Birder of the Year)... This young lady gave to date what I would consider the best overall birding presentation that I have ever seen! I wanted to jump up for an encore.

---

The highlights of the event were the presentations given by the young birders – each outstanding and very professional. Presentation topics included Artic Shorebirds, Lake Erie Water Snake recovery, Bird Banding, and Service Learning. The keynote presentation was: No Scope, No Car, No Problem! The Keynote Speaker, Rachael Butek (ABA Young Birder of the Year) gave a flawless presentation that had the entire audience almost speechless and picking their jaws up off the floor. From her first words to her amazing presentation layout, Rachael showed an entire room that seniority in the world of birding is no longer necessary and that the number of years birding DOES NOT make you the top dog. I am not sure Rachael came to Ohio to prove anything but she definitely did, whether she intended to or not. She instantly became my newest mentor – she just does not know it.

Kim Kaufman and friends... giving out some great door prizes. Nobody leaves the OYBC Conference empty handed.

Emerging Monarch... a bonus on the grounds of the Grange Audubon Center.

---

I could go on and on but I won’t. Anyone that knows me knows that I do not please nor impress easily but when I am impressed or excited I have to make sure the world knows about it. If you are reading this and you attended the event, I know you are on my page and agree with everything I have said. If you have not attended and you call yourself a birder you have to make the conference a priority next year. Trust me, if you don’t you will be left behind by a generation of birders that will be ruling the birding world very soon and will sadly regret that you had a chance to meet them and did not – don’t do this to yourself!